President Trump's longtime pollster suggests that Republicans must attack Democrats on illegal immigration, taxes, and crime if they want to avoid defeat in the upcoming midterm elections.
John McLaughlin, who conducted surveys for President Trump's 2016, 2020, and 2024 campaigns, noted that Republican candidates cannot rely solely on President Trump's support but must actively confront Democrats as Trump did in his State of the Union address.
According to a February survey by McLaughlin & Associates, 85% of respondents support deporting illegal immigrants with criminal records or terrorist links, while 12% oppose it. However, the same poll shows Democrats leading Republicans 47% to 44% on the "generic" congressional ballot—a common indicator used to predict the balance of power.
Currently, Republicans control the Senate 53-47 and hold the House with a slim 218-214 majority.
In a speech lasting nearly two hours, President Trump criticized Democratic lawmakers for not standing to applaud when he stated that the U.S. government's primary duty is to protect American citizens, not illegal immigrants. Republican campaigners have already begun using this clip in campaign advertisements.
McLaughlin argued that GOP candidates must continue to highlight Democratic opposition to President Trump's tax cut policies, including taxes on tips, overtime pay, and seniors.
McLaughlin's poll shows President Trump's approval-disapproval rating at 49%–48%, while many other public polls record lower approval ratings.
He also recommended that Republicans exploit the theme of government spending fraud, amid an ongoing investigation into a $9 billion healthcare fraud case in Minnesota.
Previously, McLaughlin warned of a challenging political environment for Republicans, as the PredictIt prediction market shows a high likelihood of Democrats controlling both the House and Senate.
